Murter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Murter is the name of a Croatian island in the Adriatic sea, located in central Dalmatia at , as well as that of a small village on the north-western part of the island.
The small town of Betina is located on the northwestern side of the island, while Jezera and Tisno are located on the northeastern coast. The island's current population is about 5,192 inhabitants, whilst that of the village is 2,010. Absolute majority are Croats with 97.59%.
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[edit] Geography
The island is in the northwest part of the Šibenik archipelago, separated from the mainland by a 20 meter wide sea canal at Tisno which is spanned by a 37 meter draw-bridge. The island covers an area of about 18.7 km², and the highest point is the peak of Raduč at 125 meters above sea level.
The southwestern coastline is predominantly steep slopes divided by many sandy coves. The island has lots of rocky beaches, as well as several sandy ones.
[edit] History
The island has been populated for nearly two millennia. An Illyric-Roman settlement known as Colentum has been found near Betina. In 1293, documents show that Murter was called "Villa Magna' meaning big village. During the 13th century there were two documented settlements on the island -- Jezera and Veliko selo, Srimač (now Murter) -- and the island itself was mentioned in the year 1318 as Insula Mortari. Betina and Tisno were most likely built around the beginning of the 15th century, during the time of Ottoman attacks in the area. The population of the island increased as refugees fled from the Turks.
[edit] Heritage
- Many Christian texts written in Glagolitic/Slavonic instead of the traditional Latin style have been found and are preserved here and in the Vatican.
- St.Michael's church, St.Rock's chapel, and the church of Our Lady of Gradina are the oldest churches on the island.
- The population of Murter traditionally deal with agriculture and fishing and are well known for these skills, as well as being producers of excellent olive oil.
- Beaches, quality accommodation and various services make Murter an ideal tourist destination, and has been one of the most visited destinations in this region for years.
[edit] External links
| edit | Municipalities of Šibenik-Knin County |  |
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